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frankrijk champagne wijnhuis henri giraud

April 4, 2018

Henri Giraud Champagne was founded in 1625—back when champagne was still a still wine and Dom Pérignon was furious about bubbles. Oh well, things change. I'm embarrassed to admit I hadn't heard of this winery before. It turned out to...

March 29, 2018

Wine and food pairing: Beef Wellington and Pomerol

Beef Wellington. It's been on my list to make for a while. It looks extra festive on the table; like cutting open a present. I just hope it turns out well and the meat comes out nice and pink. Follow...

March 28, 2018

Champagne: 3 days, 7 houses

In early March, I hopped in my speedy Fiesta en route de Champagne. It's a mere five-hour drive from Rotterdam, but with the right podcasts blaring, it feels like fifteen minutes. It truly is the perfect weekend getaway for wine...

frankrijk champagne billecart-salmon champagnereis wijngaard wijnhuis

March 12, 2018

Inside Billecart-Salmon - the traditional method up close

Billecart-Salmon, Mareuil-sur-Ay – March 2, 2018 Today I'm taking you—pour yourself a nice glass—to Billecart-Salmon. Loyal fans know Billecart-Salmon from their striking Champagne Rosé, which incidentally contains a surprisingly high percentage (50%) of Chardonnay. Others may know Billecart-Salmon from The...

champagne frankrijk traditionelle bubbels hoe wordt champagne gemaakt

February 12, 2018

Methode traditionelle: how is champagne made?

How is Champagne made? What is the traditional method, or "methode traditionnelle"? How do bubbles get into wine? So many questions, so many answers. Sparkling wines like Champagne, Cava, and Franciacorta are made using the traditional method. In short, this...

February 8, 2018

Who understands Burgundy?

Besides the many classifications, rules, and exceptions to the rules, the region is extremely fragmented. It consists of many small plots of vineyards. This is a relic of the French Revolution. Before that time, most vineyards were owned by the...

frankrijk champagne champagnehuis le tour de champagne perswijn

August 23, 2017

Perswijn 'Le tour de Champagne' – what's in my glass?

For two years running, I've been attending Le Tour de Champagne. I still remember the first time vividly. Dressed in our finest dresses—my fan Hanneke came along—we walked the red carpet at the Amstel Hotel. We immersed ourselves in the...

champagne frankrijk veuve clicquot champagnehuis

June 19, 2017

Who runs the world? Veuve! Clicquot!

Let me briefly outline the situation of this – undoubtedly epic – tasting, although the word 'tasting' is not enough, it is a Fine Wine Experience . A big yes, that's definitely what it was. It was raining that evening. Really...

May 9, 2017

The Judgment of Paris

I'm taking you to Paris. The Paris of 1976. I have no idea what the city of love looked like back then, but I do know that Galeries Lafayette was already there. The department store first opened its doors in...